Hungry Huskies Await Terriers

by Tristan Hobbes

The Boston University Terriers made it through a very difficult first five games with a 2-3 record. Things will not get much easier for the Terriers this weekend when they take on cross-town rival Northeastern and the University of Maine, with both games on the road.

Friday’s matchup against the Huskies will be another battle for this young Terriers squad that is still trying to find its identity. Having taken on some of the top teams in the country, BU will have to deal with the ruckus Matthews Arena crowd that is expected for Friday.

“I don’t know why they would be,” head coach Jack Parker said of his take on whether or not his rookies will be ready for the high intensity crowd. “This building is whacked out right now. It’s going to be hostile house for us. I think that is a good thing for us.”

For BU, the key concern is obviously is in the faceoff circle and around the net of sophomore Kieran Millan ('12). Millan has been impressive at times and has also disappeared in others.
“In general, our problem has not been anywhere near goaltending,” said Parker. “Our problem has been anywhere else but goal.”
The Huskies run the same kind of offense as UMass-Lowell, long passes that are touched into the zone, but play a defense that attempts to confuse the forwards.
“They back off, and the forwards slows up, and then they attack you,” Parker said of the Huskies philosophy. “A lot of times they’ll give us the line and hope we start gliding.”

Offensively BU is still searching for a pure goal scorer to emerge. Freshman Alex Chiasson ('13) has three goals so far but three of BU’s top four scorers are defensemen. NU is led by junior Wade MacLeod and freshman Garrett Vermeersch, both have four points (2g, 2a).

The key to this game will be how much BU tests NU’s freshman goalie Chris Rawlings. A comfortable Rawlings backed by rabid fans could mean demise for the Terriers. A rattled Rawlings and an incensed home crowd could provide the spark they need.

BU finds themselves at 1-2 in the Hockey East, while Northeastern is still searching for their first conference victory.

INJURY UPDATE
-Sophomore defenseman David Warsofsky ('12) is not expected to play on Friday and there is an inside chance he will be able to play on Sunday according to coach Parker. Warsofsky is nursing an injury to the adductor muscle in his hip. The injury resulted when Warsofsky was caught in the middle of an Eric Gryba check on a Lowell player in Saturday’s game.

-Sophomore goaltender Grant Rollheiser ('12) is practicing with the team but is still week-to-week with a high ankle sprain.

-Junior forward Nick Bonino ('11) has been practicing with the team and said his shoulder feels great. This does not mean he will play anytime soon as the Terriers’ coaches are taking every precaution to make sure he is fully healed before he plays again.